Vega Shawarma, the fast-casual shawarma spot in Madison, is shutting its doors after two years in business, with the restaurant's last day planned for Nov. 19. Owners Hrant and Elizabeth Arakelian say they're redirecting their attention to Lyra, their Middle Eastern fine-dining restaurant in East Nashville.
The closure was confirmed per an Instagram post, according to Nashville Scene, which reports that the couple will now concentrate on Lyra, which opened in East Nashville in 2018. Hrant Arakelian told the outlet he could not keep up with the rising costs of food, labor and rent — a familiar refrain echoing across Nashville's restaurant scene this year.
Vega Shawarma has operated at 1500 Gallatin Pike S. near Eastside Bowl in Madison, serving up chicken and beef shawarma alongside salads, hummus, baba ghanoush and desserts including baklava. The restaurant earned a nod in the 2025 Best of Nashville Writers' Choices, and Hrant Arakelian, a longtime local restaurant professional, competed in the Nashville Scene's 2022 Iron Fork chef competition. Elizabeth Arakelian is also a longtime fixture of the local restaurant industry.
A Broader Squeeze on Nashville Restaurants
Vega Shawarma's closure adds to what has become a rough stretch for Nashville's dining scene. More than two dozen Nashville restaurants have closed in 2026, and the list continues to grow, according to The Tennessean. Industry insiders point to a combination of declining customer traffic, rising operating costs and increased competition as the driving forces.
The paper's reporting ties into a larger national trend. The National Restaurant Association found that average restaurant operating expenses have climbed 36% since 2019, driven largely by food and labor costs. A separate report from the trade group, viewable on its own site, found that food costs alone are now up 34% compared to pre-pandemic levels of six years ago, while labor costs have climbed 39% over that same period, according to the National Restaurant Association.
Other Closures and a Reprieve
Vega Shawarma isn't the only recent casualty in the city's restaurant scene. Deacon's New South announced its closure in October, with its final day of service landing on Oct. 24, while 51 North Taproom announced it will close in December, setting its last day for Dec. 13 — both per the same Tennessean account. Audrey closed in August after its former chef said this may be the worst year he's ever seen in restaurants, in 29 years working in the industry.
Not every announced closure has stuck, though. Punk Wok reversed its planned October shutdown after reaching an agreement with its landlord, CBRE Management, to remain open, the report notes. Restaurant owners heading into 2026 identified rising food costs as the dominant challenge, alongside escalating real estate rates, labor costs and increasing competition, according to Nashville Post.
A Plea to Support What Remains
Hrant Arakelian said independently owned restaurants are part of Nashville's heart and that local spots need community support to survive. He added that people should support local restaurants that remain open rather than focus on places already lost — a message that lands squarely amid a year marked by a steady drumbeat of closures across the city.
For now, Vega Shawarma customers have until Nov. 19 to get in a last round of shawarma, hummus and baklava before the Arakelians turn their full attention to Lyra.
